Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, Sideshow Collectible has decided to give away a copy of my Vampurella Premium Format statue to a lucky winner. Just come over and sign yourself up for this great opportunity!! bit.ly/winvamp

Big thanks to dA (AGAIN!!) that I am coming to SDCC later this month to have another round of great fun with all the passionate people! If you are attending the show, please remember to swing by my table (EE-05) at the Artist's Alley and say hi!

I will also be selling some limited quantity art prints (A3 size $20 each autographed), sketchbooks ($25 autographed) and take on 5 slots of copic marker commissions AT THE SHOW only ($300 b/w, $500 toned)

I had some interesting findings after posted a poll on DA regarding my Facebook Fan Page. Many have commented that they are against Facebook and discourage me from posting art over there due to various reasons, and one of them due to the possibility of having my art being used freely by this social media site. So here are my thoughts based on my experience running a FB page for a year.

The main reason for me to set up a facebook page, is to extend my fanbase beyond DA, to the not so artist-oriented demographics. I have been using DA, and only DA, as my art HQ for the past decade and will always be. Facebook is acting as an outpost to connect with my fans in a more responsive manner due to the convenience of making posts, replies, making announcements and sharing images. Honestly, it is not my intention to choose between DA and FB, but to use both concurrently for different purposes.

So far I have not encountered any incident of FB using my images for advertising or any other commercial activity yet. Long before I started posting art on social media sites, my artworks were posted and shared by others on FB, twitter, tumblr, instagram, pinterest..etc, and many times without the proper credit to me. Worst, they were stolen, distributed and used illegally on a daily basis, cos there many of them found my art on these platforms without knowing I am the original creator. Now at least they can tag me on facebook or instagram if they choose to.

So is facebook bad for artists to promote their art? I can't answer for all but it works for me so far, especially with their efficient mobile apps. I am using it as an extension of dA, not the replacement of it.

If you are attending SIGGRAPH HK this week, do take note that I am giving a session on digital art with live demo, please join me if it interest you! I will also be selling nice art prints and doing signings at Booth A05 (3dsense Media School) on the 20th-22nd. Please drop by!

My good friend DeevElliott who has been in the comic and publishing industry for the past decades is launching 2 new comic anthologies and would love to work some new artists here on dA exclusively. If you are new in this art industry and would love to see your work being published via a comic publishing veteran then this is your chance! Please hop over to this journal ( techgnotic.deviantart.com/jour… ) for project details and get some great advice on taking your first step into the publishing industry.

With the love of deviantART, I will be coming over to SDCC this year again. Very likely i will be camping at the Artist Alley meeting fans, smiling, shaking hands, taking photos, selling and signing a small quantity of art prints, sketching and having fun. I will also be joining dA for a panel about The Business of Fan Art with $makepictures, $damphyr from deviantART and *BrianKesinger. Talking about art prints, if you have anything in specific that you wanna pick up at my table, feel free to let me know and I will see what I can do.

I am coming over to MEFCC in Dubai this weekend with my studio partners Kendrick and Kai. It is very exciting to meet up with friends and fans of the Middle East. We will be selling Art Prints, event sketches, and connecting with other artistic folks. See you there!

Many new & interesting things have surfaced in my life online to help me connect with the art community better, and some of these may interest you.

Firstly I've finally setup my Livestream Channel and I have regular painting demonstrations for the community. If you curious about how I create my art and my different approaches, you are more than welcome to join me. Please remember to register yourself and put my channel in your watchlist so that you will get notified via emails whenever i broadcast my live sessions.

Secondly I have my dA chatroom called Artgermination, which dedicated to all Digital Art discussions. It has been running for a few months and it has now become a great place for many great artists to hang out and exchange art tips and knowledge. I am really involved with the chat regardless of my crazy working schedules and I am enjoying it. If you have some burning questions about digital art and the creative industry, do drop by for a chat.

Lastly I have 2 other stores outside dA selling my products such as posters, wrapped canvas, mobile phone cases, skateboards, t-shirts, and many more. Please go have a look and hope u will find something that strike your fancy. You may also request for new products based on any artwork found in my dA gallery and I will get back to you on their availability (or not). Kindly email your request to artgerm@gmail.com or drop my a dA note.

Many people has asked me about the rationale behind my nickname - Artgerm in many occasions. To me it is more than just a nick, it is actually my mission statement in my art journey, which I would like to see people get "infected" by my works and inspire them to create art. I've been drawing for the past 20 years, in which 16 years in digital medium. Art has already been part of my life long time ago - it is my passion, my profession and my life. Although majority of my time has been devoted to the commercial projects and my family and leave me very little time to impart my art knowledge to others outside of my studio, my mission statement has never and will never change.

As a result, I've decided to setup a deviantArt chatroom recently called Artgermination for all digital art discussions, which I put in a good amount of my time daily to interact with other dA members, sharing with them my journey in art and conduct art streaming sessions for the members and the regulars. Many great artists hang out there regularly to inspire each other and it has become a little home for them. I remember there was once a member asked me if i found satisfaction in sharing my art knowledge with others, I told him that I found more than just satisfaction, I found PURPOSE.

Therefore I would like to invite you to my humble house of digital art within this massive community. I am sure you will have a great time here.

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From the groundbreaking art team Imaginary Friends Studio comes a collection of Monster hunting, zombie war journalism, gritty superhero action and twisted existentialist fantasy stories with concepts inspired by the theme of Heavy Metal.

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The new IFS online shop is now open with brand new Pepper Project artbooks, new Imagine Prime and other attractive bundles. Click this www.imaginaryfs.com/shop to start your Christmas shopping!

I've got tons of questions daily asking me all kind of questions regarding my art and digital art in general. Therefore I've decided to setup a dedicated chatroom as a contact point with fans and friends. I hope this will be a good way to answer some of your questions. Granted I won't be around all day but I will try my best to be present as much as my schedule allows. ( Be reminded that I live in Singapore so if you are not from Asia, I will probably be sleeping when you are awake! )

If you prefer to purchase my art outside dA, here is an alternative. You can find something different over there, such as iphone cases.

My Google+ account is ready. Please add me if you want a more "personal" connection with me and my life outside DeviantArt.

See you there!_______________________________

From the groundbreaking art team Imaginary Friends Studio comes a collection of Monster hunting, zombie war journalism, gritty superhero action and twisted existentialist fantasy stories with concepts inspired by the theme of Heavy Metal.

_________________________________________________

The new IFS online shop is now open with brand new Pepper Project artbooks, new Imagine Prime and other attractive bundles. Click this www.imaginaryfs.com/shop to start your Christmas shopping!

This has to be the most exciting project of the year for my beloved Imaginary Friends Studios. We are proud to announce our collaboration with the world renowned magazine - Heavy Metal, for a special issue which solely done by our studios from Singapore & Indonesia. It will be officially launched in July at SDCC 2011 and we will be there doing the signing, so catch us there if you are around!

From the groundbreaking art team Imaginary Friends Studio comes a collection of Monster hunting, zombie war journalism, gritty superhero action and twisted existentialist fantasy stories with concepts inspired by the theme of Heavy Metal.

_________________________________________________

The new IFS online shop is now open with brand new Pepper Project artbooks, new Imagine Prime and other attractive bundles. Click this www.imaginaryfs.com/shop to start your Christmas shopping!

For all the international fans, the artbook will be available for purchase at our NEW online store. Details will be released soon. Meanwhile if you are interested in attending the event, go to this www.afa08.com

Recently i was invited to be featured in the upcoming Artbook called Fusion Junction 3- A Collection of Contemporary Character Art. I did an interview with them and showcase a good collection of my artworks. Other great artists such as MHK, Noah Kuang Hong and Noho are also included.

Recently i was invited to be featured in the upcoming Artbook called Fusion Junction #3,A Collection of Contemporary Character Art, and did an interview with them. Since I realized that there are many people on DA would like to know more about my life as digital artist, maybe this interview can answer some of their questions, if not all. Enjoy!

I.This series of books features artists from around the world. What influences do you think your home country has brought to your work?

Having been born and raised a Hong-Konger, my direct influences at the time were mainly HK comics, and the most foreign being Japanese Manga. That really 'worked' in the sense that my aesthetic preferences were rather focused, and it helped me develop pretty rapidly in the respect -eventually being exposed to Western/European stuff which really set me off on a different mindset. I guess you'd call my education a very fusion based one.

II.If your art was a movie what would the tagline be?

Be Inspired. Be An Inspiration.

III.What was the defining point in which you came to consider yourself an artist?

Art fundamentals are the key, even for digital art. It gives an artist the anchor and freedom to explore various art styles. Learn it well and it will reward handsomely.

VIII.How do you feel when you finish a new piece?

The excitement is over and it's time to move on to the next piece.

IX.Do you have any rituals you go through when you are preparing to work?

Not really. I am always ready.

X.What is the first thing you think of when you wake up and the last thing you think of before you sleep?

I am always excited to start my working day when I wake up, and I reflect on the things that happened during the course of the day and what I can bring from it before going to sleep.

XI.How do tradition and culture play into your themes and ideas?

Being Asian, I borrow heavily from tradition and that rubs off on my creative mindset when I do engage in my work.

XII.If you were to liken yourself to a fictional character, which character would that be and why?

It has to be Nobita in Doraemon. So that I can play with all the cool gadgets in Doraemon's pocket!

XIII.Life always has many surprises in store for us, what would you say has been the biggest change in your life and how did it affect your work?

The formation of Imaginary Friends Studios, and the fact that being an employer is no small feat, juggling business as well as creative needs of both myself and my fellow colleagues. The greatest motivation to date is my belief that as a team, growing my team equates to growing myself, and that's what I look forward to on a daily basis.

XIV. What is the most beautiful thing youve ever seen?

My wife, Madeline.

XV. Is there an overall theme or message that you believe either consciously or sub-consciously runs through your work?

To never settle for anything less than what you deserve.

XVI. If you could make one wish what would it be?

To have been able to been born in the current generation, where more and more of the youth are getting exposed and dabbling in the creative field, having the blessing of technology and information systems to share so much. It matters a lot, especially during ones... impressionable stage.

XVII. What is the strangest thing thats ever happened to you?

The lasting fact that IFS all started with a bunch of people who met online, and now share our careers and lives side by side in a physical studio. People from all walks of lives and nationalities -it seemed like it was only yesteryear.

XVIII. Has anyone greatly influenced your art from a personal level?

No I don't recall a particular individual that did, but graphic design has a substantial influence on my approach to the creative process.

XIX.What are you passionate about in life?

I am always eager to make a difference in others' life. I enjoy imparting my skills and what knowledge I possess in art to help other young artists grow.

XX.If you could keep time in a bottle, what is the one thing youd like to do?

I would turn back the clock and possibly relive my artist beginnings.

XXI.What is your earliest memory?

I forgot. Haha!

XXII.If you were going to write a book, what would the last sentence be?

Believe in what you are capable of and fight for it till you get there.

Hi everyone! Right now we are still sorting through the 700 + entries for Pepper. The response has truly been much better than we could have dreamed and as a result we are also going to include a lot more entries into the books than we originally planned!

Now for an added bonus. We are doing a very VERY special promotion for our Imagine and Imagine Prime Artbooks to help make it more affordable for those of you who havent yet bought a copy for yourself.

For a limited time only (or while stocks last), we are offering

30% OFF ALL PURCHASES (thats a savings of almost USD$30 for the Imagine1+ Imagine Prime Bundle!)

The discount will show up automatically and all you need to do is to enter the codeword in the shopping cart: PEPPER

*You dont need to have submitted anything to the Pepper Project to enjoy this.

This goes out to all those who could not enter but supported with comments, watching and spreading the word! Thank you all of you!

Shoutbox

hey I'm a fellow artist who works primarily on a computer and I've wanted to do livestream stuff like you do for a while but I've never been able to work out the kinks. How exactly do you do livestreaming and do you have to payto do it?